{"id":128509,"date":"2026-05-13T07:38:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T10:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/caitlin-clark-nelly-korda-others-react-to-sophie-cunninghams-viral-sports-illustrated-photoshoot\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T07:38:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T10:38:26","slug":"caitlin-clark-nelly-korda-others-react-to-sophie-cunninghams-viral-sports-illustrated-photoshoot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/caitlin-clark-nelly-korda-others-react-to-sophie-cunninghams-viral-sports-illustrated-photoshoot\/","title":{"rendered":"Caitlin Clark, Nelly Korda & Others React to Sophie Cunningham\u2019s Viral Sports Illustrated Photoshoot"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Sophie Cunningham<\/a> doesn\u2019t really do low-key moments. Whether it\u2019s her confidence, her personality, or the growing fanbase she has built, the Indiana Fever<\/a> guard always seems to find a way to get people talking. And this time, she managed to do it without even stepping onto the court.<\/p>\n

The 29-year-old recently featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit<\/em>\u2019s latest edition, where she was photographed by Katherine Goguen at South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, Florida. Soon after the photos dropped, Cunningham shared them on Instagram and captioned them with, \u201cyear 1 with @si_swimsuit 😮‍💨✨ AHHHH!\u201d The post instantly caught attention across the sports world, with teammates, fellow athletes, and even a pro golfer quickly flooding the comments section to show their love.<\/p>\n

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World\u2019s No. 1 Nelly Korda wrote, \u201cOkkkkkk 🔥🔥,\u201d while Caitlin Clark<\/a> quietly showed her support by liking the post shortly after it went live. But they weren\u2019t the only ones. Even Rookie Raven Johnson took to the comments section and wrote, \u201cI mean like 😍😍😍😍😍,\u201d while Lexie Hull<\/a> added, \u201cOh em geeeeeeee.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reactions only highlighted how much Sophie Cunningham\u2019s popularity has grown over the last few years. What started as attention around her on-court personality has gradually turned into a much larger presence off the hardwood as well, with the Fever guard becoming one of the more recognizable faces in women\u2019s basketball culture.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s also a part of why the SI Swimsuit feature meant more than just another viral social media moment for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really was so fun,\u201d Cunningham said via SI Swimsuit<\/em>. \u201cYou just feel so empowered, and something I really do love about it is like, they choose \u2026 different body sizes, shapes and sizes, different ethnicities, like they just empower all types of women, and it really was like frickin\u2019 awesome. It was awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

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And moments like this are becoming an increasingly bigger part of her journey. At this point, her rise outside basketball almost feels as noticeable as her career on the court. Cunningham has steadily built one of the strongest personal brands in women\u2019s basketball, where she has landed endorsement deals with companies like Adidas, Arby\u2019s, and Quest Nutrition.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s be honest, she\u2019s far from being the only player making that leap.<\/p>\n

Over the last few years, SI Swimsuit has increasingly embraced WNBA stars, with players like Cameron Brink<\/a>, Sue Bird, Te\u2019a Cooper, Nneka Ogwumike<\/a>, DiDi Richards, and Breanna Stewart<\/a> all appearing in the iconic magazine.<\/p>\n

It is also worth noting that Cunningham\u2019s moment reflects the larger evolution happening around women athletes right now, where players are no longer limiting themselves to just their performances on the court.<\/p>\n

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How Sophie Cunningham and Other WNBA Stars Are Building Brands Beyond Basketball<\/h2>\n

While in the past, a player\u2019s contract used to be her only income source, the modern WNBA athlete is not limiting herself now. Across the league, players are increasingly stepping into ownership, investments, business ventures, and branding opportunities that can create long-term stability well after their basketball careers end.<\/p>\n

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